Best Coffee Alternatives For Your Morning Ritual
Best Coffee Alternatives
Why Less Coffee Might Be a Win?
For many, coffee is the go-to beverage to kickstart the day. However, excessive coffee consumption can lead to jitteriness, dependency, digestive issues, and disrupted sleep patterns.
Coffee's primary active ingredient, caffeine, is a central nervous system stimulant that temporarily wards off drowsiness and restores alertness. Truth is, as coffee lovers we know it’s also easy to abuse.
While moderate caffeine intake can improve concentration and reduce fatigue, overconsumption can lead to adverse effects such as increased heart rate, anxiety, digestive problems, and insomnia. Reducing coffee intake by using a tasty coffee alternative (or an ice bath) can mitigate these adverse effects, improve hydration, and foster more balanced energy levels.
Transitioning to low caffeine substitutes not only minimises the negative impacts of too much caffeine but also introduces a variety of beneficial nutrients and adaptogens into your morning rituals.
Best Coffee Alternatives – Our Favourites
1. Awake Rituals
Awake Rituals is a premium blend designed to energise the body and mind without the crash associated with traditional coffee. It combines natural ingredients like cacao, lions mane, chaga, reishi mushrooms, and cordyceps providing a balanced and sustained energy boost. The addition of adaptogens helps the body manage stress effectively. Price: $54.95AUD per 280 gram tub.
Why We Love It: Awake Rituals offers a subtle, chocolaty cacao flavour with earthy undertones, making it a satisfying morning beverage. Its blend of adaptogenic mushrooms promotes both physical vitality and mental clarity. It’s also a Byron Bay born health brand, just like us!
2. Four Sigmatic Adaptogens
Four Sigmatic Adaptogens is an all organic powdered drink mix that incorporates a range of adaptogenic mushrooms like chaga, lion's mane, and cordyceps, along with other beneficial herbs like Tulsi. These ingredients support overall wellness, cognitive function, and immune health. Price: $56 per 60 grams which is a little more on the pricier side, but a well known and trusted coffee alternative product.
Why We Love It: This blend is perfect for those seeking a natural way to enhance focus and resilience against stress. Its smooth, earthy taste is a delightful addition to any morning ritual with a beautiful cinnamon taste.
3. MUD WTR
MUD WTR is a popular coffee alternative made from a mix of organic ingredients including cacao, chai, turmeric, and a variety of mushrooms like reishi and lion's mane. It offers a fraction of the caffeine found in coffee, ensuring a calm yet alert state of mind. Price: $69.95 per 30 servings which is a 30 day supply.
Why We Love It: Mud WTR's spicy, chocolaty flavour profile is both comforting and invigorating. Its blend of superfoods supports a wide range of health benefits, from enhanced cognitive function to improved gut health.
4. Kissed Earth Brain Elixir
Kissed Earth Brain Elixir is formulated to boost brain health and cognitive performance. It contains a blend of nootropic herbs and nutrients such as ginkgo biloba, mucuna extract, gotu kola, and lion's mane mushroom. Price: $75 per 150 gram tub
Why We Love It: This elixir offers a unique combination of ingredients that support mental clarity and focus. Its pleasant, slightly sweet taste makes it an enjoyable part of the morning ritual.
5. Ceremonial Grade Cacao
Ceremonial Grade Cacao is a pure, unprocessed form of cacao that has been used in traditional ceremonies for its heart-opening properties. Rich in antioxidants, magnesium, and theobromine, it provides a gentle, sustained energy boost. Price: $36AUD per 250 gram tub.
Why We Love It: This high-quality cacao offers a deeply satisfying, rich flavour. Its natural compounds promote a sense of well-being and can enhance mood and focus without the coffee jitters.
6. Not Coffee
Not Coffee is a blend of roasted chicory root, dandelion root, and other herbs designed to mimic the taste of coffee without the caffeine. It supports liver health and digestion while providing a satisfying coffee-like experience. Price: $30 for three 30 gram sample packs of the different flavours.
Why We Love It: This blend is an excellent choice for those who love the taste of coffee but want to avoid caffeine. Its robust, earthy flavour is remarkably similar to coffee, making it a perfect substitute.
Why We Love Ice Baths as a Coffee Alternative
Ice baths are gaining popularity as an invigorating start to the day, offering a rush of endorphins and increased alertness without the need for caffeine.
Read Also: Should I Take an Ice Bath When I’m Sick?
Cold water immersion triggers the release of several key hormones and neurotransmitters that can naturally elevate energy levels and improve mental clarity.
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline: Exposure to cold water stimulates the release of adrenaline and noradrenaline, hormones that enhance alertness, focus, and energy. These hormones prepare the body for 'fight or flight,' boosting heart rate and energy levels, similar to the effects of caffeine but without the jitteriness.
Dopamine: Cold exposure increases the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation. Elevated dopamine levels can improve mood and provide a sense of well-being, making you feel more energized and ready to tackle the day.
Endorphins: Cold water immersion triggers the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers and mood enhancers. This surge in endorphins can lead to a feeling of euphoria, often referred to as the "cold-induced high."
Cortisol: While chronic stress can lead to harmful levels of cortisol, controlled exposure to cold can help regulate cortisol levels, reducing stress and promoting a more balanced state of mind.
Increased Circulation: The cold causes blood vessels to constrict, then dilate when you warm up, improving circulation and delivering more oxygen and nutrients to muscles and organs. This can enhance overall energy and recovery.
Anti-inflammatory Benefits: Regular ice baths can reduce inflammation and speed up recovery, especially beneficial for those with an active lifestyle. This contributes to overall physical well-being and helps maintain a high energy level throughout the day.
Conclusion on Coffee Alternatives
Exploring coffee alternatives can enrich your morning ritual with diverse flavours and health benefits, without losing the love of the morning hot beverage ritual that you love.
Whether you're seeking to reduce caffeine intake, enhance mental clarity, or simply try something new, these coffee alternatives provide a range of options to suit different tastes for a good option to see what a cut down of coffee can do for you.
Embrace the variety and discover a new favourite morning beverage that supports your wellness journey. Incorporating ice baths into your routine can further hack your morning ritual, offering a natural and powerful way to boost energy and mental clarity without relying on caffeine.
